The food and atmosphere is absolutely amazing! The staff was pleasant and service was quick
M. G.
It's been a while since we had been here. It was a birthday dinner so we wanted something special. Alas, it was mixed. The Mediterranean salad and the antipasto plate were good. The gnocchi in a meat sauce was excellent. The shrimp and pasta dish could have used more garlic and spices. Alas, the eggplant and chicken parm dishes were not that good. I could have done better. Basically, there was no real sauce, it looked like a can of stewed tomatoes had been poured over it - no spices, nothing. I could tell it was real eggplant, otherwise I would have thought it had been some random frozen thing. Not so sure about the chicken one. The service was pleasant and we appreciated that the waitress warned us that the bottle of wine we ordered was only half a bottle. The place is as cute and cozy as we remembered. Overall, a mixed bag.
Joseph S.
Awesome restaurant in Roslindale Sqaure. I got the gnocchis and split a bottle of wine with my wife. It was from a vineyard we got to visit in Italy on our honeymoon which was really exciting for us. The food and service is great. I'm excited to come back in the summer and try the outdoor area.
joanne
Great staff, drinks and consistent food. I'm partial to getting several apps and some good cocktails
Jimmy Baichulall
Great for a date night!Service, ambiance, food and drink all paired perfectlyApps:feta cheese dipAranciniEntreePesto pastaTortellini pastaI must say that the workers are very happy and the managers/owners are very friendly and make us feel like family.Drinks are good, pizza hits the spot and you really can't go wrong with the ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ryan Keogh
Best service in town and always friendly! The staff and the boss Joe always takes care of their customers! Great espresso martinis too. Sometimes it’s busy but that’s because it’s so good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carl B.
Only negatives Waiting area small and cramped...covid breeding ground. We elected to sit in the heated outdoor area, our choice.....a bit of a mistake. The overhead heaters took care of the upper parts of our bodies, from the waist down, cold. The host ( I assume owner) was professional, kept us informed of wait time) Service was crisp and professional. Food was OUTSTANDING. I had the Paella, on a par with any Spanish restaurant I've been to, my lady had the special, which was shrimp and scallops in a cream sauce over pasta. Unfortunately drinks were mediocre at best....martini was small and glass less than 3/4 full. We both left there full....with leftovers for lunch.....biggest disappointment of the night, no room for dessert One recommendation, make an online reservation at least a day in advance. They do not accept same day reservations once they open We'll definitely be back
Jonas T.
I will forever associate this place with the "restaurant that made me love gnocchi". Kinda just went here on a whim. We were greeted by a super casually dressed Italian guy that looked like the owner, and he and all the other workers knew how to treat us right lol. Will definitely make the drive to come here, love the vibe and how it's in some random cute alley.
Bastian Lasse
The service at Sophia’s Grotto is always a disappointment, especially because of the toxic atmosphere perpetuated by the manager, Joe. I recently had a shocking encounter with him. Our reservation was for 7:30 PM, and despite arriving on time, we were left waiting for a staggering 45 minutes. When I approached the manager to inquire about our reservation, he not only failed to apologize but responded with confrontational hostility. His behavior was a glaring example of toxic masculinity, as he chose aggression over courtesy, leaving me and my companions feeling uneasy and threatened. As if the unacceptable wait time and Joe’s rude demeanor weren’t enough, things took a turn for the worse when he eventually lost his temper and began screaming at me. It was an absolutely shocking and unwarranted display of aggression. I cannot emphasize enough that there was nothing in our behavior that justified such a response, making the entire incident deeply unsettling. I used to be a regular here, but the restaurant’s current state is not reflective of what it used to be. Definitely avoid going there!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Samantha S.
I made a reservation for my friends birthday at 7:30 and the owner, Joe, kept us waiting until 8:20. He was hostile and even started yelling at us when we calmly expressed our frustration. He caused a scene in front of the entire restaurant, and I was worried he was going to get violent. I've never experienced anything like this in my life. i used to be a regular here, but I will never be coming back.
I made a reservation for my friends birthday at 7:30 and the manager, Joe, kept us waiting until 8:20. He was hostile and even started yelling at us when we calmly expressed our frustration. He caused a scene in front of the entire restaurant, and I was worried he was going to get violent. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. I used to be a regular here, but I will never be coming back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Christopher M.
Consistently great food, great service, and a wonderful atmosphere! A real little gem in Roslindale Village!
Steven N.
Unfortunately the restaurant produced a below mediocre dinner for us on the evening after Thanksgiving. We came at the end of the night and I suspect that the restaurant's A-team had gone home leaving behind the cleaning staff to make our meal. The inside dining room was casual and cute but as patrons left the restaurant cold gusts of wind blasted our table. Our waitress was pleasant and attentive, the rest of the staff not so much. We had to ask for the complimentary french bread and were given the stumps of the loaf because "they ran out of bread." Yum! We started with sangria that was below average, lacking any visible fruit in the carafe. Burrata appetizer was uninspired and the fried artichokes were burnt and lacking flavor. Both appetizers were overpriced, not particularly generous portions, and lousy to my taste. We all had pasta dishes and mine was the worst; linguine with meatballs that tasted like it was homemade by my mother (who didn't qualify for "The Worst Cooks in America" reality show because she doesn't know how to turn on an oven so she boils everything until it dissolves). The linguine was so overcooked that it was like the pasta you'd give a toddler, and the meatballs tasted like hamburger. Adding a pile of shredded parmesan cheese couldn't hide the overly sweet and monotone flavored plum tomato marinara sauce that bathed the swamp of linguine. I got a big, whole canned plum tomato right in the middle of my plate. Others in my party had a pesto pasta, eggplant parmesan (served over the same pasty, overcooked linguine with the same marinara sauce) and gnocchi with vodka sauce. The consensus was that all of these dishes were average, but my family is really compassionate, so that means the food sucked! We skipped desert having been disappointed by the meal and spent nearly $200 with tax and tip for the four of us. This used to be family favorite place when we came to visit. Now we won't be coming back.
Dave Drexler
The Grotto is a hidden gem. Laid back, fun, and family-friendly (but a bit classy too), with good food, a great wine list, and long-time staff that have it all covered. Find the Grotto! You'll be happy you did!Parking: In the evenings, park in the Roslindale train station, across from the Distraction brewery.
Loved this cute quirky little place. Service was really good. Great options and everything we tried was delicious. The desserts were excellent as well. Great little neighborhood place!
The food and atmosphere is absolutely amazing! The staff was pleasant and service was quick
It's been a while since we had been here. It was a birthday dinner so we wanted something special. Alas, it was mixed. The Mediterranean salad and the antipasto plate were good. The gnocchi in a meat sauce was excellent. The shrimp and pasta dish could have used more garlic and spices. Alas, the eggplant and chicken parm dishes were not that good. I could have done better. Basically, there was no real sauce, it looked like a can of stewed tomatoes had been poured over it - no spices, nothing. I could tell it was real eggplant, otherwise I would have thought it had been some random frozen thing. Not so sure about the chicken one. The service was pleasant and we appreciated that the waitress warned us that the bottle of wine we ordered was only half a bottle. The place is as cute and cozy as we remembered. Overall, a mixed bag.
Awesome restaurant in Roslindale Sqaure. I got the gnocchis and split a bottle of wine with my wife. It was from a vineyard we got to visit in Italy on our honeymoon which was really exciting for us. The food and service is great. I'm excited to come back in the summer and try the outdoor area.
Great staff, drinks and consistent food. I'm partial to getting several apps and some good cocktails
Great for a date night!Service, ambiance, food and drink all paired perfectlyApps:feta cheese dipAranciniEntreePesto pastaTortellini pastaI must say that the workers are very happy and the managers/owners are very friendly and make us feel like family.Drinks are good, pizza hits the spot and you really can't go wrong with the ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best service in town and always friendly! The staff and the boss Joe always takes care of their customers! Great espresso martinis too. Sometimes it’s busy but that’s because it’s so good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Only negatives Waiting area small and cramped...covid breeding ground. We elected to sit in the heated outdoor area, our choice.....a bit of a mistake. The overhead heaters took care of the upper parts of our bodies, from the waist down, cold. The host ( I assume owner) was professional, kept us informed of wait time) Service was crisp and professional. Food was OUTSTANDING. I had the Paella, on a par with any Spanish restaurant I've been to, my lady had the special, which was shrimp and scallops in a cream sauce over pasta. Unfortunately drinks were mediocre at best....martini was small and glass less than 3/4 full. We both left there full....with leftovers for lunch.....biggest disappointment of the night, no room for dessert One recommendation, make an online reservation at least a day in advance. They do not accept same day reservations once they open We'll definitely be back
I will forever associate this place with the "restaurant that made me love gnocchi". Kinda just went here on a whim. We were greeted by a super casually dressed Italian guy that looked like the owner, and he and all the other workers knew how to treat us right lol. Will definitely make the drive to come here, love the vibe and how it's in some random cute alley.
The service at Sophia’s Grotto is always a disappointment, especially because of the toxic atmosphere perpetuated by the manager, Joe. I recently had a shocking encounter with him. Our reservation was for 7:30 PM, and despite arriving on time, we were left waiting for a staggering 45 minutes. When I approached the manager to inquire about our reservation, he not only failed to apologize but responded with confrontational hostility. His behavior was a glaring example of toxic masculinity, as he chose aggression over courtesy, leaving me and my companions feeling uneasy and threatened. As if the unacceptable wait time and Joe’s rude demeanor weren’t enough, things took a turn for the worse when he eventually lost his temper and began screaming at me. It was an absolutely shocking and unwarranted display of aggression. I cannot emphasize enough that there was nothing in our behavior that justified such a response, making the entire incident deeply unsettling. I used to be a regular here, but the restaurant’s current state is not reflective of what it used to be. Definitely avoid going there!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I made a reservation for my friends birthday at 7:30 and the owner, Joe, kept us waiting until 8:20. He was hostile and even started yelling at us when we calmly expressed our frustration. He caused a scene in front of the entire restaurant, and I was worried he was going to get violent. I've never experienced anything like this in my life. i used to be a regular here, but I will never be coming back.
Restaurantji Recommends
I made a reservation for my friends birthday at 7:30 and the manager, Joe, kept us waiting until 8:20. He was hostile and even started yelling at us when we calmly expressed our frustration. He caused a scene in front of the entire restaurant, and I was worried he was going to get violent. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. I used to be a regular here, but I will never be coming back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Consistently great food, great service, and a wonderful atmosphere! A real little gem in Roslindale Village!
Unfortunately the restaurant produced a below mediocre dinner for us on the evening after Thanksgiving. We came at the end of the night and I suspect that the restaurant's A-team had gone home leaving behind the cleaning staff to make our meal. The inside dining room was casual and cute but as patrons left the restaurant cold gusts of wind blasted our table. Our waitress was pleasant and attentive, the rest of the staff not so much. We had to ask for the complimentary french bread and were given the stumps of the loaf because "they ran out of bread." Yum! We started with sangria that was below average, lacking any visible fruit in the carafe. Burrata appetizer was uninspired and the fried artichokes were burnt and lacking flavor. Both appetizers were overpriced, not particularly generous portions, and lousy to my taste. We all had pasta dishes and mine was the worst; linguine with meatballs that tasted like it was homemade by my mother (who didn't qualify for "The Worst Cooks in America" reality show because she doesn't know how to turn on an oven so she boils everything until it dissolves). The linguine was so overcooked that it was like the pasta you'd give a toddler, and the meatballs tasted like hamburger. Adding a pile of shredded parmesan cheese couldn't hide the overly sweet and monotone flavored plum tomato marinara sauce that bathed the swamp of linguine. I got a big, whole canned plum tomato right in the middle of my plate. Others in my party had a pesto pasta, eggplant parmesan (served over the same pasty, overcooked linguine with the same marinara sauce) and gnocchi with vodka sauce. The consensus was that all of these dishes were average, but my family is really compassionate, so that means the food sucked! We skipped desert having been disappointed by the meal and spent nearly $200 with tax and tip for the four of us. This used to be family favorite place when we came to visit. Now we won't be coming back.
The Grotto is a hidden gem. Laid back, fun, and family-friendly (but a bit classy too), with good food, a great wine list, and long-time staff that have it all covered. Find the Grotto! You'll be happy you did!Parking: In the evenings, park in the Roslindale train station, across from the Distraction brewery.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Mussels, Arancini, Paella, Arugula, Scallops & Risotto
Loved this cute quirky little place. Service was really good. Great options and everything we tried was delicious. The desserts were excellent as well. Great little neighborhood place!